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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to call a doctor?

49 replies

Amy214 · 02/07/2016 15:42

Dd (2years old) came into contact with another child who had hand foot and mouth at preschool (on monday) and for the past 2 days shes had a temp of 37/38. Today its gone up slightly to 38.9. She has barely ate today, she couldn't even be bothered eating a chocolate biscuit (not like her as she loves her biscuits) i am trying my best to get her to drink some water/juice but she doesn't want to, when she did have a drink she winced as if it really hurt (theres nothing there). Last night she woke up crying for a cuddle and was holding her mouth. Her urine smells slightly, dm thinks she may have a sore tummy as she keeps passing gas (tmi but it smells really bad) ive been giving her calpol every 4 hours (she can't have nurofen as it isn't recommended for children with diabetes she's getting further blood tests and i don't want to risk it) her sock fell off and she bum shuffled towards me so i could put it back on, she just looks like she can't be bothered. She has had a nap but was moaning in her sleep (something is bothering her and she can't tell me what Sad)
I want to call out of hours but the last time i called we were fobbed off and she was rushed to hospital the next morning as she was unconscious, i don't want that to happen again but i want some advice on what i could do to help dd. Im going to wrap her up warmly and stick her in her buggy and go a little walk for some fresh air.

OP posts:
pinkieandperkie · 02/07/2016 15:50

If it was my child I wouldn't be taking them out if they were unwell. Call the out of hours doctor who can advise you. Good luck

lougle · 02/07/2016 15:53

It sounds like she could well have hand foot and mouth disease but it's viral and there is absolutely nothing a doctor could do for it. You could give her ice pops instead of drinks if that would soothe her mouth and get fluids into her.

DoesMyMarthaCliffLookBigInThis · 02/07/2016 15:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SilverDragonfly1 · 02/07/2016 16:08

I think that as she may have diabetes, you should be looking for professional opinion. Being ill plays absolute havoc with blood sugars, more so if you can't eat.

Debinaboat · 02/07/2016 16:23

I agree with the pp
If there is a chance she has diabetes , you need to see a doctor .

lougle · 02/07/2016 16:30

I don't think your DD has been diagnosed as diabetic though, has she? She's just had an incidence of low blood sugars. Diabetes is a condition with high blood sugars. I don't think you need to treat her any differently to any other child from what you've described on MN. The doctor won't be able to do anything for HFM because it's viral.

Original poster
Amy214 · 02/07/2016 16:59

Shes not yet been diagnosed but diabetes runs in the family and her doctor was more than happy to investigate. Last time she was so sick the only thing that really helped was fresh air. We bought her a fruit shoot to try and cheer her up and shes had a few sips of that. Biscuits help aswell when she's ill as thats the only thing she can normally stomach so it wasn't like her to turn it down. She seems to have perked up slightly but this is normal for her to have 30 minutes of feeling ok then feeling rubbish again. I'll try her with some soup and if that doesn't work i will definitely be calling out of hours.

OP posts:
Debinaboat · 02/07/2016 17:04

I can't see where the op says that the issue is low blood sugars ? Is this info from a previous thread ?
Going by what I am reading , I would not hesitate to be calling the doctor .
Blood sugars high or low , are not to be messed around with , the doctor may be able to offer reassurance ,or advise that dd should be seen .but I would let the doc be the one who decides what action is needed.
Sounds like she might be getting a bit dehydrated also ,again a reason in itself to seek advice .

dailymaillazyjournos · 02/07/2016 17:08

I think if there's any possibility at all that she may have diabetes or other issues with her blood sugar levels, then you should get advice, as she isn't eating and drinking and also because you said her wee smells a bit off.

Original poster
Amy214 · 02/07/2016 17:14

It was very low the last time (2.2) she's managed some soup and juice but i'm still going to call a doctor as i think i'll just be worrying all the time, if i can get reassurance i'll feel better.

OP posts:
RaeSkywalker · 02/07/2016 17:25

Glad you're calling a doctor. Hope she's better soon Flowers

StressedAndConfusedArgh · 02/07/2016 17:30

Is she taking insulin? If not, I wouldn't be worried about diabetes as this is the only way that those with diabetes get hypos. Hope she feels better soon Flowers

Original poster
Amy214 · 02/07/2016 17:34

They are very busy atm but they are going to call back within 2 hours and if her symptoms worsen i've to call back immediately.

OP posts:
Original poster
Amy214 · 02/07/2016 17:35

She isn't on anything for diabetes as im still waiting for her appointment, could take upto 14 weeks and we've already been waiting for 6 so hopefully not long now Smile

OP posts:
StressedAndConfusedArgh · 02/07/2016 17:42

I'm glad you're getting her seen - important to get to the bottom of the low blood sugar! Smile

Is it an endocrinologist that you're seeing? If it makes you feel better, I think it's very unlikely she will be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (going from what you've said) as this is caused by a lack of insulin and therefore causes high blood sugars. They can occasionally get low blood sugars if they overinject their insulin, but not otherwise. (I suppose possibly also extreme exercise but that would be very rare and unheard of in a baby I reckon!)

LauderSyme · 02/07/2016 17:43

Yanbu. With what you've described I would want some medical advice too. Little children can get really poorly in a shockingly short space of time.
It's tricky if you feel you can't trust the out of hours service, could you ring 111?
It is horrible and upsetting when they're unwell and listless, and so unlike their usual happy selves.

Princessdebthe1st · 02/07/2016 17:45

OP, you did the right thing contacting the Dr's and I am glad they are going to contact you. In the mean time, you said in your OP that you are giving paracetamol every 4 hours. Please make sure you don't give more than the maximum amount of doses allowed which is four in twenty four hours as that is VERY dangerous. Paracetamol can be given every four hours but never more than four doses in twenty four hours which can cause confusion. Forgive me if you already know this and have taken it into account. Hope your little one is feeling better soon.

anotherworriedparent · 02/07/2016 17:47

I'm sorry your little girl is unwell. I do believe that if she had Type 1 Diabetes she would be presenting with high blood sugar, not low. High blood glucose would stem from the pancreas not producing insulin. Onset of T1 needs urgent treatment, certainly not a 14 week wait for an appointment. Low blood glucose in a person with T1 occurs when either there is too much insulin on board, maybe they've been exercising and their levels have dropped or some sickness bugs. Also can happen during the 'honeymoon' period when T1 has been diagnosed but the pancreas still produces some insulin, unpredictably.

There are other conditions which can cause low blood glucose levels and I am wondering if this is what your DD is being investigated for.

Given that she is so off-form and under investigation, I definitely think you're doing the right thing in getting her checked out. Hopefully someone will see her to put your mind at ease and they might suggested alternating paracetamol and Nurofen. (My DC has T1 Diabetes and we've never been told to avoid Nurofen).

Hope you can get some answers.

Original poster
Amy214 · 02/07/2016 17:52

She's been referred to pediatrics im not sure who's shes supposed to be seeing. I have called 111 and its very busy, i hope they call back. The nurse didn't seem very concerned when i told her about the further blood tests she's supposed to be getting.

OP posts:
StressedAndConfusedArgh · 02/07/2016 17:54

Do you know which blood tests she is having done? These might help to you to understand what her doctors think might be going on.

Original poster
Amy214 · 02/07/2016 17:55

Princessdebthe1st shes only had 3 doses today, i don't want to give her anymore until bedtime.

OP posts:
MatildaTheCat · 02/07/2016 18:03

If she has a sore mouth try her with ice lollies, cool yogurts etc. HF&M is nasty for a couple of days but she will soon bounce back. Do, of course speak with the doctor if you are worried about other health issues.

Original poster
Amy214 · 02/07/2016 18:08

Im not sure what blood tests shes getting i think its just to see why she had low blood sugars. She had bloods the last time she was in hospital but they never told me the results. She was supposed to have a referral after being admitted at the beginning of march but it never came through (they said there wasn't one on the system) so i had to take her back to the doctors to get another one and i called last week to make sure it was still there and thats when they said it could take upto 14 weeks. She's on the cancellation list now so i could get a call at anytime.

OP posts:
Original poster
Amy214 · 02/07/2016 18:26

She's got an appointment in an hour, so hopefully we find out whats wrong Smile

OP posts:
lougle · 02/07/2016 18:37

I'm sorry if I seemed dismissive. I really didn't intend to and I know how scary it can be when your child is unwell. I was trying to reassure you that one incidence of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugars) after a bout of severe vomiting and diarrhoea - which is what your DD had - is very unlikely to mean that she has diabetes, and if she did have diabetes it would not take 14 weeks to find out. So people advising you to see a doctor if your DD has diabetes would be right to be concerned that a child could become more unwell, more quickly, if they have diabetes, but it's unlikely to apply here.

It won't help you to treat your DD as if she has T1 DM if she doesn't. It won't help you to drag your DD to see a Dr for HFM.

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